Daily Updates on the Live Music Scene in Meaford and Area

The Thursday Outlook – Oct. 19 to 23, 2017

The Band That Kills Hate, Blackie and The Rodeo Kings, is coming back to spread their vibe and their amazing music in our area, with a show on Sunday evening at Meaford Hall. Along with killing hate and putting on a show that rocks the house, this is a band that represents the best in Canadian song writing. Originally founded as a tribute to the late Willie P. Bennett, the band was conceived as a fun side project for the three artists (Tom Wilson, Colin Linden and Stephen Fearing) who all have their own careers, and two decades later they still bring that fun of an all-star jam to every show. Throughout their career they have consistently made a point of shining the spotlight on Canadian songwriters and others from the wide world of music. Touring with them recently is Tom Wilson’s son, Thompson Wilson, who dispels any hint of nepotism with engaging original songs performed solo on acoustic guitar. Blackie and The Rodeo Kings is a band that every Canadian music fan should see and there’s no better venue for that than Meaford Hall.

Owen Sound based songwriter, Larry Jensen, whose original songs have spawned a tribute album by the leading lights of the local music scene, will be performing a special concert tonight at The Bleeding Carrot, starting at 7 pm. This is an ideal small venue to be able to really enjoy the songs and stories he weaves.

Jacelyn Holmes, whose press touts her as a blend of Marilyn Monroe and Stevie Nicks, is at The Huron Club in Collingwood for the weekend. Following her showcase performance at the 2017 Juno Awards she’s released a smoky blues single, “Fool”, and is working on an upcoming album.

The Historic Leith Church has become the place to hear music that celebrates the life and work of Tom Thomson. In July they featured“The Woods Are Burning” a mix of music and spoken word created by David Sereda and Anne Michaels, performed with the help of some stellar local musicians.

This Saturday they present songwriters Terry Tufts and Kathryn Briggs’ take on the great Canadian artist with an original show “Sonic Pallette: Tom Thomson’s Voice Through Music 100 Years Later”. While the David Sereda concert took its inspiration from the life of Tom Thomson and an exploration of the creative spirit connected to landscape, this show is focussed on the work, including songs specifically written about The West Wind and The Jack Pine. The music is performed by The Algonquin Ensemble and features Terry on Manzer Palette, an acoustic guitar on steroids with 50 strings criss-crossing in five different groups.

At CROW Variety on Saturday night fans of real authentic early N’Awlins jazz will want to catch The Vaudevillian. This trio with guitar, washboard and standup bass, and vocals that sound like old 78’s without the scratches, will have your toes tapping.

The Shane Cloutier Band joins the lineup of great blues players that have become the mainstay of The Harbour Street Fish Bar when he plays there on Friday night. Local guitar hero and teacher, Shane can hold his own alongside the blues legends that have come through this room. Tamica Herod and the Harbour Street Band has wound up their long residency there and starting this week the Lisa Hutchinson Band will play alternate Fridays and the John Findlay Band will be taking up a residency on alternating Thursdays.

The Garafraxa Café in the village of Durham has the disadvantage of being a half hour drive from larger centres north and south of it, but the design of the room and its sound system make it an ideal place to see an band on a Sunday afternoon. A stop at The Garafraxa would be a great way to cap off an afternoon tour of the fall colours this Sunday between 2 and 5. Saskatoon’s Gunner and Smith will be there this Sunday. Joining the band, touring in support of their new album, “Byzantium”,are drummer Nik Winnitowy and lead guitarist Graham Tilsley

Doug and Heather Brown are finding their niche in gospel with a new website and a full gospel show called The Brown*s Music Ministry in Stayner on Saturday from 7 to 8 at First Baptist Church, 205 Oak Street.